Rams stand pat at tight end position

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Monday, Aug. 30 2004

The Rams had the help-wanted sign out for much of the offseason, with no fewer
than 10 tight ends under contract at one time or another.

But four of those players never made it to training camp; two others have been
cut since training camp started. Which leaves the Rams with four candidates at
the position - and two familiar names in Brandon Manumaleuna and Cam Cleeland.

The Rams basically are standing pat at the position in 2004, hoping that
another year in the system will benefit Manumaleuna and Cleeland.

"You can't come in and do it one year," tight ends coach Frank Falks said.
"It's not that type of system. It's a great system, but you have to be in it
for a while to understand all the nuances of it."

The Rams are hoping this is the year for Manumaleuna, otherwise they wouldn't
have matched Carolina's five-year, $8.3 million offer sheet to him as a
restricted free agent last March. Even though he's entering his fourth NFL
season, Manumaleuna is only 24. That, in part, explains the team's patient
approach.

"Brandon is practicing and actually playing with the passion that we would like
to see him play with," Falks said. "His techniques are way above last year. His
intensity is above last year. He's practicing physical. And playing physical.

"I think he can be as good as there is in the league in terms of being an
all-around tight end - at the line of scrimmage and receiving. And I think he's
starting to push towards that point."

An unrestricted free agent entering the offseason, Cleeland didn't re-sign with
the Rams until early June. After an impressive first week of training camp, he
missed most of the next three weeks with a hamstring injury, returning to make
his exhibition debut Friday against Washington.

"He has come back after the hamstring and moved very well," Falks said. "He's
very confident in what he's doing... He's a different guy than last year."

With Manumaleuna and Cleeland givens on the final roster, undrafted rookie Mike
Brake is the leading candidate for the No. 3 tight-end spot. Although drafted
as a tight end, seventh-rounder Erik Jensen has been practicing at fullback for
much of camp. But if the Rams decide to keep Jensen over Brake, Jensen should
be able to handle the Rams' "move" tight-end position as well.

"The position he plays at fullback carries over to one of the tight end
positions," Falks said. "So he could easily play them both - go in the ballgame
and execute at either position."

Brake, who played college ball at Akron, has been a pleasant training camp
surprise so far.

"The first time I saw him, I thought there was something about him, and he
hasn't proven me wrong," Falks said. "He's got something about him, whether it
be this year or next year, that's going to really surface, and he's going to be
a good player in this league."